Intercommunicating telephone lockout system



F. w. ADSIT. AINTERCOMMUNICAHNG TELEPHONE LOCKOUT SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILIED JULY 29,1916.

1 ,307,651 Patented June 24,19181.

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. F. W. ADSIT. IN TERCOMMUNICATING TELEPHONE LOCKOUT SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED l'ULY 29, 1916. 1 ,307,6 5 Patented June 24, 1919.

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FRANK W. ADSIT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERCOMMUNICATING TELEPHONE LOCKOUT SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters'Patent. Patented Julle' 24, 1919.

Application filed' July 29, 1916. Serial No. 112,150.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK 1V. Aosrr, a

citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intercoinmumcating Telephone Lockout Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to providing means where one subscriber on a telephone party line connected w1th a central station may call any other subscrlber on that line, or the central station, and hold a private conversation with the party so called, the remaining parties on the line being locked out.

This invention is more or less closely related to my two co-pending applications Se rial Nos. 30,166, and 15,114, and in the specification and drawings I show parts of circuits and devices covered in these two, and also a device similar to the one covered in my co-pending application Serial #57,310, but this invention is materially different from any of these cases, both in the manner in which the power is supplied for making selections and ringing the bells, and also in numerous important details required in the operation of the system.

WVhile it is necessary to showsome c1rcuits and devices covered in the other cases, these are not a part of this invention and are not set up in claims herein, the claims covering only the improvements developed in this particular invention. 7

One object of my invention is to provide in a telephone lockout system a source of selecting and ringing. current at the central station and means at each of the subscribers stations for applying suchcurrent to the line.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a telephone lockout system means for calling more than one party on a party line at the same time, allowing both parties to enter in on the line, but locking out the remaining parties.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for limiting the length of conversation on a telephone lockout party line, and means for clearing or restoring the line to normal at the end of any given predetermined period. I i

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements ofwhich are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings is disclosed a party line embodying my invention, Figure 1 showing the central office circuit and one of the sub scribers circuits, and Fig. 2 showing two of the subscribers circuits.

For easy reference similar parts and similar wires at station A, B and. C are denoted by the same numerals with the symbol added at station B and symbol added at station C.

Similar parts and Wires at the exchange or station D are denoted by diiferent numerals where there are considerable difien ences in the operation of the central ap'pa ratus.

The ground connections at the stations A, B and C are denoted by letters G, G and G respectively, while grounds at the central station, which would in fact be one ground, are shown as H, H, H and H for easy reference in the circuit. I

The arrangement of circuits and apparatus in my invention is such that it may be embodied in the form of an attachment that can be added to the common type of magneto telephone, although a complete instrument embodying the device may also be manufactured. 4 a

It will be noted from the drawings that the magneto ordinarilyused in a local battery telephone is dispensed with, but the circuit otherwise is that commonly known as the magneto telephone circuit.

Sabscm'bcrs station apparatus.

The three subscribers stations A, B and C and the central station D are connected by line wires E and F and the ground connections G and H, which of course may be omitted and a third wire substituted therefor.

The subscribers apparatus consists, in addition to the ordinary equipment of a magneto type telephone, of a selecting dial 11 having buttons from l'to 10, half of the dial being broken away in the drawing.

These buttons 1 to 10, slidably mounted in any suitable manner in the dial 11, are adapted to make contact with the spring'lfZ when depressed, as the spring is rotated, but

to clear the spring and make no electrical connection when they are not depressed.

The spring 12 is carried by the insulated pointer 13 on the shaft 1 1, which in turn is driven by the ratchet wheel 15 actuated by the dog 16 carried by the. I armature 17, which in turn is actuatedby the motor coils 18, the motor coils preferably being polarized by the permanent magnet 19, so as to respond to alternating current, which will step all ratchet wheels in synchronism with its own frequency.

The spring 20 fastened to the shaft and the frame'of the attachment in any suitable manner serves to return the ratchet wheel to its normal position when released from actuation of the dog.

Any type of retaining pawl, which would be controlled by the release lever in the same manner as is the pawl 16, may be utilised to hold the ratchet wheel 15 during the backward travel of the pawl 16, or the inertia of the wheel 15 may be depended upon.- I

A starting coil 21 controlling the latch 22 is adapted to unlatch both of the levers 23 and 24 actuating the bank of springs associated with each of these levers, while a selecting coil 25 is adapted tounlatch the lever 24 only and actuate the bank of springs associated with that lever.

A restoring coil 26 through its armature 27 and the link 28 is adapted to restore the ratchet wheel 15, and also restore the levers 23 and 2 1- when the restoring coil 26 is actuated by direct current which is supplied at the proper time, as will be hereinafter described.

A restoring relay 29 serves by the contact 30 to supply current to, the restoring coil when the restoring circuit is applied.

The ratchet wheel 15 carries thereon a pin 31 adapted to make contact with the spring 32 in its-final position, and carries also an insulating button 33, which on they first step of the ratchet wheel allows the opening of the bank of normal contact of springs associated therewith.

The shaft 1 1 carries a selecting pointer 34 adapted to make contact during its revolution with the selecting spring 35, and this contact pointer 34 is set differently in each of the subscribers instruments, so that contact between the pointer 34: and the selecting spring 35 will be made at only one instrument at any one time while the pointer 13 carrying the spring 12 is in the'same position on the shafts of all attachments and contact can be made at any desired time in the revolution of the wheel 15 by depressing the proper button.

The fundamental idea of selection is that to call a party, number 3, for instance, the act of depressing button number 3 will cause a contact to be made between the spring 12 and the button 3 at the station where the call is initiated at the same instant that the contact between the selecting pointer 34 and the selecting spring 35 is made at the called station, completing a circuit that will be traced hereinafter.

The alternating current used in operating the motor coils 18 and also to ring the bell 36 is supplied from the central station D in a manner hereinafter explained, whenever the contact 37 is closed and, as is evident, this contact would preferably be closed by the act of depressing any of the buttons, and

it is merely shown as a conventional contact for ease in tracing the circuits.

Means are provided at the central station D for restoring line conditions to normal at any time that a ground is placed on the line F in any manner, either at central station D or any of the subscribers stations when the timer is in service, and the line may also be restored by the completion of a local circuit at the central station D to be taken up in its turn, and an emergency contact 38 is provided at each station so that a subscriber at any station may clear the line at any time, whether locked out or not, in case of an emergency, but as this contact is only for emergency purposes it is preferably covered by a seal or glass, so that it could not be used without its use being known.

The subscribers talking set 39 is of the ordinary local battery type and is normally cut off of the line, being switched in on to the line only when calls are made or received.

Susoribers station circuit operation.

When subscriber A wishes to talk with subscriber B at station 3, he depresses button '3 and contact 37, which may be one act, thus placing alternating current on the line E and F through the actuation of the coil 21, as described later.

The closing of the contact 37 actuates the starting coil 21, the circuit being as follows:

Local battery 50, wires 14, 45, 51, coil 21, wire 52, contact 53, wire 54, contact 37, wires 55, 56, 57, to the other side of thelocal battery 50, and the actuation of thefcoil 21 fulfils the starting conditions by placing the ground G on the line wire F through V Mechanism at central office is adapted to place alternating current on the line wires E and F when a ground is placed on the line F, except under certain conditions of the timer.

The motor coils 18 on all stations are a bridged across the line wires E and F "and responding to the alternating current step the ratchet wheel 15 around to the final position where the pin v31 makes contact with the spring 32.

The first step of the ratchet wheel opens the contacts in the bank of springs controlled by. the button 33.

The talking set of subscriber A is then across-the line wires E and F when the receiver is removed from the hook through the following circuit: From line wire E, wires 41, 42, condenser 43, through th talking set from the switch hook through wires 44, 45, contacts 46,47, wires 48, 49,to the other line wire F,

After the ratchet wheels have reached their final position, alternating current is removed from the line wires E and F by central oflice apparatus under conditions hereinafter described.

= The circuit at station B has now been modified from that shown in the drawing, because the selecting coil 25"v has been actuated by alternatino current through a momentary closing'of a circuit which includes at station B the contact between the selecting pointer 34 and the selecting spring 35 at the same instant that the spring 12 made contact with the button 3 at station A, the circuit being from line wire F, which carries one side of the alternating current through wires 49, 48, 64, contact 63., contact 65, wire 66, brush 67, spring 12, button 3, plate 11, .wires 68, 58, to the ground G at station A through the earth to the ground G at station. B, wires 58, 59, 69, selecting contact'34, selecting contact spring 35, wires 70, selecting coil 25, wires 71, 72, 73,'41, to the line'wire E which carries the other side of the alternating current.

The bell 36 is also brought into circuit by the actuation of thescoil 25, and in series with the condenser 43 is placed across the line wires E and F, the circuit being as follows:

Line wire E, wires 41, 42, condenser 43, wire 168, bell36, wire 169, contact 47,, wires 48, 49, to the line wire F.

It will be noted that the back contact of the switch hook is not used in the bell circuit, but this contact is used in placing a ground on the line wire F when the ratchet wheel 15 reaches its final position, the circuit being as follows:

' Line wire F, wires 49, 48, contacts 47, 46', wires 45, 44, switch hook 40, wire 170 to the final contact spring 32, pin 31, through the ratchet wheel 15, wires 69, 59', 58 to the ground at G. The circuit in all stations where the selecting coil 25 has been actuated may be traced in the same manner.

The energizing of the selecting, coil 25' actuates the bank of springs associated therewith and cuts the talking set of subscriber B across the line, as already described with respect to subscriber A, but the starting coil 21 of subscriber B was not actuated, and hence the bank of springs associated therewith was not actuated as the except the party initiating the call and the party or parties called are locked out, also the position of the buttons in all stations eX- cept the calling station cannot afiect the systemas the starting coils 21 have not and cannot be energized.

Central station apparatus.

The selecting circuit for the central sta: tion D is simll-ar and operates in a similar manner to that at stations A, B and C, except that additional functions are performed, also that the drop 74 takes the place of the bell 36 and the talking circuit of the operator would of course be upon a cord circuit adapted to be connected with the jack 75 in the ordinary manner.

The central station apparatus includes in addition to the drop and jack and selective means, similar to that at the subscribers station, an alternating current control switch 100, actuating the bank of springs 101, a pole changer of ordinary construction 102, an alternating current switch control relay 103, a timing mechanism 104, including a tone test circuit 105 and three release coils 106, 107, 108 in parallel, the release coil 108 being similar to the release coils 26 in the subscribers attachments.

Central station circuit operation.

The act of initiating a call at one of the stations, as heretofore described, places a ground on the line wire F, and the .placing of this ground on this line wire F when the timer is not in service actuates the alternating current switch relay 103, the circuit being as follows:

Central oflice battery 109, wires 110, 1 11, 112, contact 113 wire 114, coil 103, wire 115, contact 106, the ratchet wheels not having been stepped forwardly as the alternating current has not yet been applied, to the ground H, from the ground H through the earth to the ground at the subscribers station initiating the call and through that station to the line wire F, as already traced, from the line wire F at central station through wires 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, contact 122, wires 123 and 124, to the other. side of the battery 109.

Thejclosing of the contact 125 by the actuation of thecoil 103 closes a circuit from the battery 109 through wires 110,111, 112,

contact 113, wire 114, contact 125, wire 130, contact 129, wire 128, coil 127, wires 126, 120, 121, contact 122, wires 123, 124, to the other side of the battery 109 actuatlng through'the energizing of the coil 127 the armature 131, which actuates the quick acting switch link 1'32, and through it the bank of springs 101. The operation of the bank of springs places alternating current from the main springs 133 and 134 of the pole changer 102 directly on the line wires E i and F.

With the first step of the ratchet wheel 15 station D, the bank of springs controlled by the insulated pin. 33 is actuated, which starts the timer mechanism under control of the periodic contact maker 135.

Just before the ratchet wheel15 reaches its final position the insulated pin 33 will close the contact 146, which a'ctuates the coil 21-1,'the circuitbeing as follows:

Alternating current from main spring 134 of the pole changer, wire 147', contact 148 now made, wire l66, cont act' 1 46, wire 149, coil 211, wire 150, contact 151, to the ground H', from the ground at H through the earth to the ground at the station being called through the final contact and the back switch'hook contact at the station back over the line F to the main spring 133 carrying the other side of the alternatingcurrent, and evidently this relay will remain actuated as long as aground remains on that side of the line, maintaining the contact 152 open.

The ringing control relay 211 controls the quick acting armature 153 mounted on the main inertia controlled lever 154, so that when'the armature 153 comes up at the first impulse of current it is latched in the forward position by latch 155 and the inertia lever gradually comes up through the action of the spring 225 and maintains the contact 152 open, but-unlatches the latch 155 so that when the coil 211 is finally deenergized both armature and lever may swing back to their normal position, as showninFig. 1.

While the ratchet Wheel 15 is rotating synchronously with the ratchet wheels in the subscribers instruments grounds made at any subscribers instrument by the seleoting contact will actuate the coil 1 67, the circuit being as follows:

' Alternating current from the main spring 134, wires 156, 157, "coil167, Wire 15 8, con tact 159, Wire 160, contact 161, to the ground"H, from the ground H through the earth to the ground at the subscribers instrument, where the selecting contact was made and back through that instrument over the line wire F to the main spring 133, which carries the other side of the alternating current, as already traced.

1 Therefore, the coil, 167 will be actuated until other circuit conditions hereinafter eX-.

plained are established,'hence it is not essential that the final contact of the attachments be all made at absolutely the same instant, but all must be made before contact 159' is opened or contact 172 closed.

The armature 1 62 through the dog-163 will cause the quadrant 164 to take one step for each actuation of the coil. 167, and the first two-steps of the equipment will not affect the circuit arrangements, but should a third step be taken, as when two or more parties are called, the latch165 will be unlatched and thei'ground H? be opened from the main spring associated withlatch 165, and there will 'be transferred to the main spring the timer controlled ground H2117. The armature 162 associated with the coil 1 67 is preferably made of a sluggish responsive nature, so that it will be drawn up by alternating current but will not follow. the fluctuations thereof. I

We have seen that alternating current has been placed on the line wires E and F through the actuation of the coil 127 and this alternating current is removed after it has performed its function by the actuation of the coil 171. It is apparent that the coil 171 cannot be actuated until the contact 152 is again closed, as contact 172 which controls coil 171 is in series with contact 152 If only one party has been called and the quadrant 164 took only two steps so that the ground H would remain as shown in the drawing, the coil 211 will remain actuated'until all grounds are removed from the line wire F, which would be accomplished when the switch hook of the party called-was raised in answering his call, and the switch hook ofthe party calling was also raised, the removal of the ground from the line wire F opening the circuit of the coil 211, as already traced, with the contact 152 closed and with the contact 172 closed in the final position of the ratchet wheel 15 the coil 171 would then be actuated, the circuit being as follows:

Battery 109, wires 110, 111, 112, contact I r and the parties would then talk in the usual manner.

Timer 0 pemtion.

It has been shown that the timer motor coil 137 is started as soon as the call is initiated and begins to time the length of conversation.

Pins are provided, carried by the ratchet wheel 145, for changing certain conditions in the timer service as follows:

When pin 181 moves one end of the lever 182 the contact 183 is opened, which removes the ground H which had taken the place of the ground H in the circuit holding the coil 211 if three steps were taken on the quadrant 164, which would, have been done if more than one partyvwas called by the party initiating the call depressing more than one button. o

It is therefore seen that in case more than one party was called the coil 211 would re main actuated until the contact 183 was opened by the movement of the lev6l2182 by the pin 181, so that for the length of time taken for the pin 181 to reach the lever 182 the bells of the called parties would be. rung and the alternating current could not be removed from the line by one party answering sooner than the other, but would be removed at the expiration of this time regardless of grounds on the line,

Hence if one of the parties did notianswer the ringing current would remain on the line, but this would be relieved by the actuation of the lever 182, and at the end of the period taken for the pinto actuate lever 182, the ringing current, would-be removed and the line put in talking condition. 3

When the pin 184 strikes the lever 182 the spring resting thereon will be cainmed still farther upwardly and make contact with the spring 185, grounded at H which brings this ground through wires 186, 187, through the timer relay 188, wires 189, 190, 110 to the battery 109, and as the other side of thisbattery is connected to line F through wires 124, 123, contact 122, wires 121, 120,119, 118,117, it is evident that a ground now-placed on the line ,F il a t ate t e c l 1 8.

i If either f he pa ti king ng his receiver upon the hook, thus closing his back contact, the ground will be placed upon theline wire F through the final contact of the ratchet wheel, as already traced, and as coil 188 willibe actuated the entire system will be restored to its normal condition through the potentiation of the following cir uits J Restormg 0f subscribers attcrchments wire F and from the other side of battery 109 through wires 110, 190, 191, contact 192, wires 193, 194, 81, to line wire E, this battery actuating all of the restoring mechanism in the attachments, as already described.

Restoring of central apparatus.

Battery 109, wires 110, 190, 191, contact 195, wire 196, contact 197, wire 198, to one. side of coils 106, 107, 108, and from the other side of battery 109 through wires 124, 145,

' 199, to the other side of coil 106, from the allows the wheel to be'returned to its normal condition by a suitable spring, not shown, restores the latch associated with coil 188 and the contacts associated therewith, and the returning of the ratchet wheel 145,

restores the lever 182 and the contact associated therewithto its normal condition. i The actuation of coil 10 7 returns the quadrant 164 and the latch and springs associated therewith to their normal condition, while the actuation of coil 108 removes the dogs from ratchet wheel 15. allowing it to be returned to its normal condition, and thus restoring the contacts associated therewith to their normal condition, resetsthe latch of the selecting coil 25 to its normal condition and also the contact associated therewith.

The. contact 139 is opened by the returning of ratchet wheel 15 so that the circuit through which the interrupted contact maker was actuating coil 137 is nowo-pened and the timer remains in its normalconditionuntil again actuated. I 1

Should neither party hang up for a considerable period of time the pin 202 is adapted to restore the line to normal, even though the actuation of the coil 188 having already been explained.

The pin 202 will make contact with'spring 206 a few seconds before it makes contact with spring 204, closing the primary of the tone test circuit 105 sending a tone out on the line wires to advise the talking subscribers that their time limit will soon have expired, the secondary of the coil being of high impedance and permanently bridged on the line; If the key 142is thrown from the normal position to the one shown in the drawing, thus opening contact 141, the timer and all its functions will be inoperative, while if the key is thrown in the other direction so as to close contact 207, the coil 188 will be actuated and the timer restored to normal, as heretofore described through the following circuit:

Battery109, wires 110, 190, 189, coil 188, wires 187, 208, 209, contact 207, wires 210, 200, 145, 124, to the other side of the battery 109.

' 'VVhile I have described my invention and illustrated it in one particular design,'I do not wish it understood that I. limit myself to this construction, as it is evident that the application of my invention may be varied in many ways within the scope of the following claims.

a 'Claimsr I 1; In an intercommunicating telephone system the combination of a central station, multiple subscribers stations, line'wires connaming said subscribers stationswith said central station, a ground connectionat each of said subscribers stations and at said central station, means whereby, selecting current may be impressed on saidline wires at said central station, means at each 01": said subscribers stations controlling the means atsaid' central station for impressing selecting current on said line wires, electro-magnetic synchronously operated means at each otsaid subscribers stations responsive to said selecting current, settable contacts at each of said subscribers stations, fixed contactsat each of saidsubscribers stations, both isettable and fixed contacts being adapted tof'be made by said synchronously operatedjmeans whereby two ormore of said subscribers stations may be rendered operative. with respect to-sa-id line wires.

2. In" an intercommunicating telephone system the comb nation of a 'centralstation,

multiple subscribers stat-ions, a pairof line wires connecting, said central station and said subscribers stations, a ground connectionatsaid central station and each of'said subscribers stations, means whereby a sub.-

scriber at one of said stations may impress selecting current from a source at central station on to saidline wires for the purpose of calling one or more of saidsubscribers stations, means at. central station whereby said selecting current will be automatically removed from saidline wires when a talking connection hasbeen completed if only one of said subscribers stations was, called, and alternative means at said. central station whereby the completion of a talking circuit will not remove said selecting current from said line wires until the expiration of a predetermined period.

, In an I intercommunicating telephone system the combination of-acentral station,

multiple subscribers stations, a pair of line wires connecting said central station and saidsubscribers stations, means at said central station for impressing selecting current on said line wires, means at said central station for removin said selecting current from said line Wires, and circuit changing means at said central station whereby said selecting current may be removed at a later period in the cycle of the completed call where more than one party has been called than when only one party has been called.

4;. In an intercommunicating telephone system the combination of a central station, multiple subscribers stations, a pairof line wires connecting said central station and said subscribers stations, a ground connec tion at said central station and at 'each oi said subscribers stations, means at said central station operable from each of said sub scribers stations for impressing selecting current on said line wires, means at said central station for removing said selecting current from said line wires after it has been so impressed, and means at each of said subscribers stations for determining the time at which said selecting current will be removed'from said line wires. l

5. In an intercommunicating telephone system the combination of acentral station, multiple subscribers stations, a pair of line wires connecting said central station and said subscribers, stations, a ground connection at said central station and each of said subscribers stations, and means at said central station controllable at each of said subscribers,stations for impressing selecting current on each of said'line wires for thepurpose of selecting one or more of said subscribers stations, means at said central station for removing said selecting current from said line Wires, and means at each of said subscribers stations for causing said selecting current to be emoved upon the completion of the talking circuit between the calling andcalled subscribers stations, and additional means at said subscribers stations whereby said selecting current may be removed from said line wires at a pre determined period after the talking connection has been completed "between a calling station and one called station.

6. In an inrtercommunicating telephone system the combination of a central station, multiplesubscri'bers stations, talking sets at said subscribers stations, selecting means at said subscribers stations, line wires connecting said subscribers stations with said settable contacts at each of said subscribers stations, fixed contacts at each of said sub scribers stations, both settable and fixed contacts being adapted to be made by said synchronously operated means whereby two or more of said subscribers talking sets may be rendered operative with respect to said line wires. v

7. In an interconnnunicating telephone system the combination of a central station, multiple subscribers stations, a pair of line Wires connecting said central station and said subscribers stations, a ground connection at said central station and each of said subscribers stations, a source of selecting current at said subscribers stations, a twoway electro-magnetic switch whereby selecting current may be thrown on or cut off of said line wires at said central station, a relay operable fromeach of said subscribers stations for actuating said switch in one direction cutting said selecting current on to said line wires, a second relay control having a contact whereby said selecting current may be cut off from said line wires, and a third relay controlling a multiple stepping device,

said third relay bein adapted to take one step for each groun applied to said line wires after said second relay has been actuated.

8. In an intercommunicating telephone lockout system the combination of a central station, multiple subscribers stations, line wires connecting said central station and said subscribers stations, a ground connection at said central station and each of said subscribers stations, a timer at said central station adapted to restore said intercommunicating telephone lockout system to normal conditions at predetermined times under various circuit conditions, and means controlled by the number of grounds applied at said subscribers stations for determining at which one of said predeterminedperiods said normal conditions of the system will be restored.

9. In an intercommunicating telephone lockout system the combination of a central station, multiple subscribers stations, line wires connecting said central and said subscribers stations, a ground connection at said central station and at each of said sub scribers stations, a timer at said central station, means associated with said timer whereby said system may be restored to normal when one party has been called and does not answer within a predetermined time, and additional means associated with said timer for preventing the restoring to normal condition of said system at said predetermined time if more than one party is called.

10. In an intercommunicating telephone lockout system the combination of a central station, multiple subscribers stations, a pair of line wires connecting said central station and said subscribers stations, a ground connection at said central station and each of said subscribers stations, synchronously operated wheels at said central station and said subscribers stations, means for applying selecting current to said line wires at said central station, operable from each of said subscribers stations, and means associated with the synchronous wheel at said central station for cutting ofi' said selecting current from said line wires.

FRANK W. ADSIT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, D. 0. 

